Kristin: A month ago I posted this blog on ‘Why we struggle with public engagement‘, detailing the findings from several interviews I conducted in Europe during September. I’ve also been thinking about this further for a couple of talks I am giving at the Sir Mark Oliphant Cleantech conference this week in Melbourne. I will upload those slides at the end of the week. In the meantime, click here Bridge8 Nano Ex Report 2009 cc to download the full report on Nanotechnology Engagement in Europe.
Public engagement with science is very topical. Without looking I can can think of three things I’ve seen in the last day relating to the challenges and importance of public engagement with science and science communication including:
- Interviews with science communicators on the release of the Inspiring Australia report in Fast Thinking, which I read on the plane last night.
- The controversy between @bengoldacre and Lord Winston as reported and commented on in droves at Andrew Maynard’s 2020science blog following an interview in the Imperial College magazine, I, Science. Comments on Andrew’s post were closed today.
- A guest post on the Brave New Climate blog on why an informed public is critical for nuclear energy.
All worth a read.
Bridge8 
And another one. This follow-up guest blog by Barbara Herr Harthorn also at 2020 Science on Public participation in nanotechnology: should we care: http://2020science.org/zj